Three months is better than four. I just couldn't let tonight's results stand without regurgitating a combination of everyone else's opinions that I will call my own.
Officiating in sports will always be a hotbed issue. I can't keep track of how many times I've erred at my job, and that's without thousands of people watching in person, and millions more dissecting my every decision during and after the fact. On the other hand, if I could review all of my customer interactions on video I'd probably be a lot better at my job. And if my job actually mattered, they might force me to "watch the tape." But let's talk about the sucky job that you do care about.
It's been said many times that the best refs go unnoticed. That's where umpires differ. Whether ump makes a good call or not, you will notice him because he makes a call on every play. Football refs will do all kinds of things between and during plays, but unless they throw a flag or get in the way or dressed like an ice cold creamsicle you won't take note. They blow a whistle, but they don't make a noticeable decision on most plays. Every pitch, every batted ball, every wind-up can't be completed legally without the umpires' approval.
Which is probably why umpires do what they do. They not only get paid to interact with the game they (presumably) love, they get paid to control the game they (presumably) love. And they really do control the game. Their rule is final. In what other sport can a player be ejected for arguing with an official, without warning?
It's natural to resent their power. They may have to answer to some league official at some point, but during the game there is nothing anyone else can do to stop an umpire making a mistake, and refusing to believe they made a mistake. Implementing instant replay two seasons ago was a big deal, because it was the first time an ump could be wrong, and be told he was wrong, and have his wrongness corrected. But what's more important: the distinction between a home run and not a home run or the distinction between an out and not an out? The answer lies in another question: which came first, the out or the home run?
Consider the American League Central. Umpire mistakes robbed both of the primary contenders tonight.
By now most have heard about Jim Joyce's mugging of Armando Galarraga and the Detroit Tigers. Best described by the man himself: "I just cost that kid a perfect game." Joyce said this after viewing the instant replay of his terrible call.
The small consolation of Detroit's stolen perfect game: they still won. Jim Joyce denied us history, but he did not deny victory. The Tigers would rather have the latter right now.
The big consolation: Dale Scott's compensatory robbery of the Twins' chance at victory. No national outlet mentions it, but instant replay clearly shows that Josh Wilson was just as out as Jason Donald.
Galarraga loses his place in history, but Detroit gains a game in the standings. Next to each other, in that sentence, makes it sound pretty lopsided. Come September, however, we'll see whose prize was more valuable.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Hibernation
In what may be a recurring pattern, I stopped writing for four months. Besides sleeping with grizzly bears, I've been reading about sports and following sports, agonizing over how many mistakes the Wolves will make and continue to make, and how consistently inconsistent the Wild remain.
There is some good news though: The Twins have been killing it. And killing it. And really, really KILLING IT. The Twins' payroll this year is pushing $100 million, and with the insurance money from Joe Nathan's UCL, the Twins could sign a possible replacement.
Wait, I didn't mention Joe Nathan's impending surgery? Or the Twins complete lack of any other reliable strike-out relievers? Oh. Well I guess you probably know this, but throwing a baseball 93 miles an hour does not strengthen a human arm. It really is too bad that there's so much money in it, because throwing a baseball does not do a body good. Joe Nathan will know this soon enough, because regaining his previous strength and range of motion takes almost a year of painstaking physical therapy. Some twelve million dollars in guaranteed salary will ease pain. Didn't I say we should trade him?
Not that a closer would net a team much. They're important, but only to contenders. They're probably the most important role-player on a baseball team, but should role-players take up more than 10% of a team's payroll? There's bound to be some teams who would trade for an elite closer, and be dumb enough to give up at least one prospect with star-potential. That's too much to give up for a luxury.
That's what Joe Nathan was/is: a luxury. Baseball games have lasted nine innings for a hundred years without much trouble. The Twins have played without the ninth inning for awhile, but they can still win playing it old school. Which they will have to do, because a good replacement isn't going to fall into their lap. Teams will be asking for half the farm, because the Twins will not have enough options to get a favorable price.
So who will end up closing? Don't be surprised if it's Nick Punto.
So I guess that turned out a bit more negative than such great news merits. The Twins are going into this season with a new stadium and a new infield. They're going to be good, even if Nick Punto really does pitch in the ninth. At least his defense would be solid.
There is some good news though: The Twins have been killing it. And killing it. And really, really KILLING IT. The Twins' payroll this year is pushing $100 million, and with the insurance money from Joe Nathan's UCL, the Twins could sign a possible replacement.
Wait, I didn't mention Joe Nathan's impending surgery? Or the Twins complete lack of any other reliable strike-out relievers? Oh. Well I guess you probably know this, but throwing a baseball 93 miles an hour does not strengthen a human arm. It really is too bad that there's so much money in it, because throwing a baseball does not do a body good. Joe Nathan will know this soon enough, because regaining his previous strength and range of motion takes almost a year of painstaking physical therapy. Some twelve million dollars in guaranteed salary will ease pain. Didn't I say we should trade him?
Not that a closer would net a team much. They're important, but only to contenders. They're probably the most important role-player on a baseball team, but should role-players take up more than 10% of a team's payroll? There's bound to be some teams who would trade for an elite closer, and be dumb enough to give up at least one prospect with star-potential. That's too much to give up for a luxury.
That's what Joe Nathan was/is: a luxury. Baseball games have lasted nine innings for a hundred years without much trouble. The Twins have played without the ninth inning for awhile, but they can still win playing it old school. Which they will have to do, because a good replacement isn't going to fall into their lap. Teams will be asking for half the farm, because the Twins will not have enough options to get a favorable price.
So who will end up closing? Don't be surprised if it's Nick Punto.
So I guess that turned out a bit more negative than such great news merits. The Twins are going into this season with a new stadium and a new infield. They're going to be good, even if Nick Punto really does pitch in the ninth. At least his defense would be solid.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Inside the Box: Wolves 87 Clippers 91
Watchable Wolves games will not be televised. The Wolves won't win them either, because at this point they're bound to be pretty comfortable with losing.
Jonny Flynn had his best game of the season, with his first 2+ assist:turnover ratio. It had been a tough stretch for the young guard, when he stopped performing his greatest strength: scoring. Defenses were definitely keying in on his dribble-drives because he would look nowhere but the cup. He not only found his scoring touch again, he dished out five assists. You never know with assists, as official scorers tend to give them out for things as dumb as feeding Al in the low post.
Speaking of Al, he sucked in this game. Eight turnovers, six traveling violations, three in the fourth quarter. The Wolves had closed the score to 87-89 with under thirty seconds to go, and got the stop they needed. So needing just a deuce to tie the game, they fed Al in the post. Then Al took a different kind of deuce, traveling yet again to kill whatever momentum the Wolves gained from Ryan Gomes' huge three (which would be the Wolves' last of the night). Nice one, Al.
Hopefully there will be other opportunities to win a close game. Hopefully Big Al won't choke again, but nobody has ever called him or any of the other Wolves winners.
Jonny Flynn had his best game of the season, with his first 2+ assist:turnover ratio. It had been a tough stretch for the young guard, when he stopped performing his greatest strength: scoring. Defenses were definitely keying in on his dribble-drives because he would look nowhere but the cup. He not only found his scoring touch again, he dished out five assists. You never know with assists, as official scorers tend to give them out for things as dumb as feeding Al in the low post.
Speaking of Al, he sucked in this game. Eight turnovers, six traveling violations, three in the fourth quarter. The Wolves had closed the score to 87-89 with under thirty seconds to go, and got the stop they needed. So needing just a deuce to tie the game, they fed Al in the post. Then Al took a different kind of deuce, traveling yet again to kill whatever momentum the Wolves gained from Ryan Gomes' huge three (which would be the Wolves' last of the night). Nice one, Al.
Hopefully there will be other opportunities to win a close game. Hopefully Big Al won't choke again, but nobody has ever called him or any of the other Wolves winners.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Cowboy delivers
No not the Cowboys. Owen Nolan, the toughest son of a female dog around, took his 37-year-old body to the ice at the X, and nearly left without it. Throughout the game he threw the living corpse of his nineteen year NHL career at the puck, at the Islanders, and at the net. Remember his last target, because the Wild would need him to hit it to avoid overtime.
The entire team played an energetic and fast-paced first period. The New Yorkers couldn't hang on to the puck in any zone, and couldn't deal with the Wild's very improved puck-possession game. More time spent with their line-mates always improves the players sense of timing and positioning, but it's been the break-out of their defensive zone that's allowed the Wild to keep the puck after they've forced a turnover. What's helped has been an extra pass within the defensive zone in order to shake the opposing forecheck. Call it what you will, but playing with patience in their own zone has allowed a much faster and cleaner transition through the neutral zone. That's a good thing. Once they reach the opposing zone, they tend to lose their way, but getting there is half the battle.
Getting the first goal usually wins the game for the Wild, but for all the energy with which they opened the game, they were no properly awarded. Owen Nolan eschewed his body for the puck, hitting the net with a fluky bounce off the goaltender's skate as he fell into the boards. This was after taking numerous shots to the face, none of which were called by the referees. The Islanders got that benefit, but the Wild continued their strong power-play kill. New York went 0 for 6 on the night. The Isle got the equalizer not long into the second period, but were gracious enough to take back-to-back penalties, giving the Wild the dreaded 5-on-3 power play for more than a minute. Dreaded for all of the wrong reasons given the way the Wild have played with extra men in the past few games. Predictably, the Wild collapsed the New York defense, but really only got one good shot before the power-play died, buried side-by-side with the Wild's momentum. The Islanders took it to the Wild, the Wild did not score on their other two power-plays (0/4 in the period), and Josh Bailey took the lead after Backstrom got turned around on the Islanders' puck movement. More often than not this season, game over.
Yet the Wild tied it on Mikko Koivu's, get this, power-play goal in the third period. The play was beautifully skated, beautifully passed, and beautifully finished with a one-time deflection. No standing around, passing back and forth between the points, which inevitably leads to a shot from one of those points. Not the way to score, on a power-play or otherwise. The way to score is to pass the puck from the goal-line, through the crease, and then back across the slot to Koivu's waiting blade. Misdirection that the goaltender cannot handle is the way to create scoring chances. Hopefully they can learn from that power-play.
They'll watch the tape from the end of the third as well. The Cowboy went to the net on Nick Schultz shot, and took a shot of his own from the Islander defense. Erik Belanger hustled to keep the puck in the zone, shooting it high as Nolan picked himself up from the ice in time to catch Belanger's shot, drop it to his stick, and shove in the winner. After the checks around the net, the sticks to his face, and his diving blocked shot (off of his laces no less), the game-winning catch-and-shoot seemed pretty easy. For a fiery Irishman like Owen Nolan, it probably was.
The entire team played an energetic and fast-paced first period. The New Yorkers couldn't hang on to the puck in any zone, and couldn't deal with the Wild's very improved puck-possession game. More time spent with their line-mates always improves the players sense of timing and positioning, but it's been the break-out of their defensive zone that's allowed the Wild to keep the puck after they've forced a turnover. What's helped has been an extra pass within the defensive zone in order to shake the opposing forecheck. Call it what you will, but playing with patience in their own zone has allowed a much faster and cleaner transition through the neutral zone. That's a good thing. Once they reach the opposing zone, they tend to lose their way, but getting there is half the battle.
Getting the first goal usually wins the game for the Wild, but for all the energy with which they opened the game, they were no properly awarded. Owen Nolan eschewed his body for the puck, hitting the net with a fluky bounce off the goaltender's skate as he fell into the boards. This was after taking numerous shots to the face, none of which were called by the referees. The Islanders got that benefit, but the Wild continued their strong power-play kill. New York went 0 for 6 on the night. The Isle got the equalizer not long into the second period, but were gracious enough to take back-to-back penalties, giving the Wild the dreaded 5-on-3 power play for more than a minute. Dreaded for all of the wrong reasons given the way the Wild have played with extra men in the past few games. Predictably, the Wild collapsed the New York defense, but really only got one good shot before the power-play died, buried side-by-side with the Wild's momentum. The Islanders took it to the Wild, the Wild did not score on their other two power-plays (0/4 in the period), and Josh Bailey took the lead after Backstrom got turned around on the Islanders' puck movement. More often than not this season, game over.
Yet the Wild tied it on Mikko Koivu's, get this, power-play goal in the third period. The play was beautifully skated, beautifully passed, and beautifully finished with a one-time deflection. No standing around, passing back and forth between the points, which inevitably leads to a shot from one of those points. Not the way to score, on a power-play or otherwise. The way to score is to pass the puck from the goal-line, through the crease, and then back across the slot to Koivu's waiting blade. Misdirection that the goaltender cannot handle is the way to create scoring chances. Hopefully they can learn from that power-play.
They'll watch the tape from the end of the third as well. The Cowboy went to the net on Nick Schultz shot, and took a shot of his own from the Islander defense. Erik Belanger hustled to keep the puck in the zone, shooting it high as Nolan picked himself up from the ice in time to catch Belanger's shot, drop it to his stick, and shove in the winner. After the checks around the net, the sticks to his face, and his diving blocked shot (off of his laces no less), the game-winning catch-and-shoot seemed pretty easy. For a fiery Irishman like Owen Nolan, it probably was.
Lukewarm water: Coyotes 3 Wild 2
The Wild hit the ice skating, and promptly took a penalty. They killed it without much trouble, but did not seem to realize it. They remained on their heels for the rest of the first period, though it remained scoreless throughout. It was actually a mistake they didn't make that cost them. Owen Nolan's phantom slash (a light tap on the knee as Sami Lepasto's stick snapped in two from a relatively weak pass) gave Phoenix the power-play needed to open the scoring.
The Wild's top line tried their best to keep the Wild in the game, but a complete lack of secondary scoring from Marty Havenot and his linemates ultimately doomed the Wild. Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettenen, and Mikko Koivu? A combined +6. Every other Wild forward? A combined -6. Not winning numbers.
As far as winning plays go, surrendering another goal nineteen seconds after tying the game is quite the opposite. No movement from the defense as Backstrom allowed his only rebound of the night, after which Scottie Upshall's gliding shot slipped under Nik's pad from a sharp angle. Inexplicable and inexcusable, from both Backs and the defense. We all hoped that these kinds of lapses disappeared. We were wrong. This team is still growing within the little talent they have.
The Wild's top line tried their best to keep the Wild in the game, but a complete lack of secondary scoring from Marty Havenot and his linemates ultimately doomed the Wild. Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettenen, and Mikko Koivu? A combined +6. Every other Wild forward? A combined -6. Not winning numbers.
As far as winning plays go, surrendering another goal nineteen seconds after tying the game is quite the opposite. No movement from the defense as Backstrom allowed his only rebound of the night, after which Scottie Upshall's gliding shot slipped under Nik's pad from a sharp angle. Inexplicable and inexcusable, from both Backs and the defense. We all hoped that these kinds of lapses disappeared. We were wrong. This team is still growing within the little talent they have.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Inside the Box: Timberwolves @ Trail Blazers
The Wolves played a basketball game and lost, because they suck, and will continue to suck for fore and unforeseeable future. They suck enough to lose their only national TV game (or any TV broadcast that night for that matter). They've lost just about everything but their bladder-control, but will probably lose that by the time the season's over. If they're even on TV when it finally happens, watching every miserable moment of basketball will be worth it.
A little too easy
So after two weeks off, the Vikings are finally back to playing NFL football. It's good to have them back, too, because Sunday just isn't the same without the boys in purple. Though it remains to be seen whether any remaining opponent will put up any fight. I don't feel like the Vikings have really been tested, except for their only loss of the season.
There's plenty to like about the details. Except for some big plays, the defense shut down the Seahawks, both through the air and the ground. Not a lot of sacks, but except for the mentioned plays, most of the completions were short, underneath, and harmless. Those big plays came during garbage time, but they ruined several things for the Vikes:
1. The shutout, which they haven't had all season.
2. Every improvement that their pass defense seemed to show against the Steelers
3. Their season-long redzone rushing shutout. To a guy weighing less than 200.
All of these, against an awful Seahawk O-line, pretty much spells out what's been true all season: the Vikings defense is not dominant. They'll show flashes of dominant play, but when the sacks aren't coming, receivers are going to get open. Wide open. For big gains. Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams don't do anything from their safety positions. Karl Paymah couldn't cover a guy in a wheelchair, and Cedric Griffin seems invisible. Have you heard of or seen Griffin making a play in the past month? Me neither. I'll give him a pass (ha), since teams haven't thrown one his way since Antoine Winfield went down. I don't think Winfield being out is the main problem though.
Even Darren Sharper, he of 7 interceptions this season, never made a large amount of plays for the Vikings under Leslie Frazier. Not that I completely blame Frazier's scheme or believe Sharper's derogatory comments towards it. It's a combination of poor play and a passive two-deep scheme. Ed Reed isn't the best safety in the league because he sits back in prevent mode. He takes risks, and thrives by being allowed to do so. The Vikings safeties don't take risks, whether it's their decision or Leslie Frazier's. Either way, the corners can't do it by themselves, because they just aren't that good. Asher Allen in the starting line-up would definitely be an upgrade though. The kid can play, let him.
The special teams didn't generate any touchdowns, but didn't allow any and forced a fumble. The offense shook off the rust from their bye weeks and started to cruise in the second quarter through some good short-passing before the Seahawks' weariness opened up the route-tree. The Vikings have three legitimate weapons for Favre to use, and that excludes Adrian Peterson. If defenses take away one or two, like they did to Sidney Rice and Peterson in the first quarter, then Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, and even Bernard Berrian can make them pay.
Of course, it all depends on Favre, who has played nothing short of spectacularly. That's what I'm still getting used to: the dependency of my team's success on an elite quarterback, and the knowledge that a one-two year rental will get credit for every win. It won't be our championship, it will be Favre's, because he'll have earned it.
There's plenty to like about the details. Except for some big plays, the defense shut down the Seahawks, both through the air and the ground. Not a lot of sacks, but except for the mentioned plays, most of the completions were short, underneath, and harmless. Those big plays came during garbage time, but they ruined several things for the Vikes:
1. The shutout, which they haven't had all season.
2. Every improvement that their pass defense seemed to show against the Steelers
3. Their season-long redzone rushing shutout. To a guy weighing less than 200.
All of these, against an awful Seahawk O-line, pretty much spells out what's been true all season: the Vikings defense is not dominant. They'll show flashes of dominant play, but when the sacks aren't coming, receivers are going to get open. Wide open. For big gains. Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams don't do anything from their safety positions. Karl Paymah couldn't cover a guy in a wheelchair, and Cedric Griffin seems invisible. Have you heard of or seen Griffin making a play in the past month? Me neither. I'll give him a pass (ha), since teams haven't thrown one his way since Antoine Winfield went down. I don't think Winfield being out is the main problem though.
Even Darren Sharper, he of 7 interceptions this season, never made a large amount of plays for the Vikings under Leslie Frazier. Not that I completely blame Frazier's scheme or believe Sharper's derogatory comments towards it. It's a combination of poor play and a passive two-deep scheme. Ed Reed isn't the best safety in the league because he sits back in prevent mode. He takes risks, and thrives by being allowed to do so. The Vikings safeties don't take risks, whether it's their decision or Leslie Frazier's. Either way, the corners can't do it by themselves, because they just aren't that good. Asher Allen in the starting line-up would definitely be an upgrade though. The kid can play, let him.
The special teams didn't generate any touchdowns, but didn't allow any and forced a fumble. The offense shook off the rust from their bye weeks and started to cruise in the second quarter through some good short-passing before the Seahawks' weariness opened up the route-tree. The Vikings have three legitimate weapons for Favre to use, and that excludes Adrian Peterson. If defenses take away one or two, like they did to Sidney Rice and Peterson in the first quarter, then Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, and even Bernard Berrian can make them pay.
Of course, it all depends on Favre, who has played nothing short of spectacularly. That's what I'm still getting used to: the dependency of my team's success on an elite quarterback, and the knowledge that a one-two year rental will get credit for every win. It won't be our championship, it will be Favre's, because he'll have earned it.
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